Egypt Independent

Egypt’s parliament comprises 39 Coptic members: Pope Tawadros II

Pope of Alexandria’s Coptic Orthodox Church Tawadros II visited Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Jersey City, US on Monday, heading mass for thousands of Copts.

During his visit, Pope Tawadros II praised Copts’ current conditions in Egypt, stating that society has changed for the better. He pointed out that Coptic members in the House of Representatives have increased to 39 members in 2015, compared to only one or two before 2011.

Madbouly’s cabinet also contains two Coptic ministers, he added, such as the Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs Nabila Makram and Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali.

He also said that the church has inspected up to four Coptic churches in Jersey City, which the Egyptian Orthodox Church established since 2013.

The pope added that the Church has already established churches worldwide such as in France, Netherlands, Greece, and is looking to expand worldwide to further countries.

The visit marks the Pope’s first trip to the papal headquarters in New Jersey.

The pope visited the US for the first time in 2015, on the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States.